scholarly journals Application of Universal Stress Proteins in Probing the Dynamics of Potent Degraders in Complex Terephthalate Metagenome

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Andreas N. Mbah ◽  
Raphael D. Isokpehi

The culture-independent strategies to study microbial diversity and function have led to a revolution in environmental genomics, enabling fundamental questions about the distribution of microbes and their influence on bioremediation to be addressed. In this research we used the expression of universal stress proteins as a probe to determine the changes in degrading microbial population from a highly toxic terephthalate wastewater to a less toxic activated sludge bioreactor. The impact of relative toxicities was significantly elaborated at the levels of genus and species. The results indicated that 23 similar prokaryotic phyla were represented in both metagenomes irrespective of their relative abundance. Furthermore, the following bacteria taxa Micromonosporaceae,Streptomyces, Cyanothecesp. PCC 7822,Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, Bacillus halodurans, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus garvieae, Brucellaceae,Ralstonia solanacearum, Verminephrobacter eiseniae,Azoarcus,Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Francisella tularensis, Methanothermus fervidus,andMethanocorpusculum labreanumwere represented only in the activated sludge bioreactor. These highly dynamic microbes could serve as taxonomic biomarkers for toxic thresholds related to terephthalate and its derivatives. This paper, highlights the application of universal stress proteins in metagenomics analysis. Dynamics of microbial consortium of this nature can have future in biotechnological applications in bioremediation of toxic chemicals and radionuclides.

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.H. Nielsen ◽  
T.R. Thomsen ◽  
J.L. Nielsen

Activated sludge flocs consist of numerous constituents which, together with other factors, are responsible for floc structure and floc properties. These properties largely determine the sludge properties such as flocculation, settling and dewaterability. In this paper we briefly review the present knowledge about the role of bacteria in relation to floc and sludge properties, and we present a new approach to investigate the identity and function of the bacteria in the activated sludge flocs. The approach includes identification of the important bacteria and a characterization of their physiological and functional properties. It is carried out by use of culture-independent molecular biological methods linked with other methods to study the physiology and function, maintaining a single cell resolution. Using this approach it was found that floc-forming properties differed among the various bacterial groups, e.g. that different microcolony-forming bacteria had very different sensitivities to shear and that some of them deflocculated under anaerobic conditions. In our opinion, the approach to combine identity with functional analysis of the dominant bacteria in activated sludge by in situ methods is a very promising way to investigate correlations between presence of specific bacteria, and floc and sludge properties that are of interest.


PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyree J. West ◽  
Delphine Parrot ◽  
Claire Fayet ◽  
Martin Grube ◽  
Sophie Tomasi ◽  
...  

The microbial diversity and function of terrestrial lichens have been well studied, but knowledge about the non-photosynthetic bacteria associated with marine lichens is still scarce. 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was used to assess the culture-independent bacterial diversity in the strictly marine cyanolichen speciesLichina pygmaeaandLichina confinis, and the maritime chlorolichen speciesXanthoria aureolawhich occupy different areas on the littoral zone. Inland terrestrial cyanolichens from Austria were also analysed as for the marine lichens to examine further the impact of habitat/lichen species on the associated bacterial communities. TheL. confinisandL. pygmaeacommunities were significantly different from those of the maritimeXanthoria aureolalichen found higher up on the littoral zone and these latter communities were more similar to those of the inland terrestrial lichens. The strictly marine lichens were dominated by the Bacteroidetes phylum accounting for 50% of the sequences, whereas Alphaproteobacteria, notablySphingomonas, dominated the maritime and the inland terrestrial lichens. Bacterial communities associated with the twoLichinaspecies were significantly different sharing only 33 core OTUs, half of which were affiliated to the Bacteroidetes generaRubricoccus,TunicatimonasandLewinella, suggesting an important role of these species in the marineLichinalichen symbiosis. Marine cyanolichens showed a higher abundance of OTUs likely affiliated to moderately thermophilic and/or radiation resistant bacteria belonging to the Phyla Chloroflexi, Thermi, and the families Rhodothermaceae and Rubrobacteraceae when compared to those of inland terrestrial lichens. This most likely reflects the exposed and highly variable conditions to which they are subjected daily.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hari Seshan ◽  
Ezequiel Santillan ◽  
Florentin Constancias ◽  
Uma Shankari Chandra Segaran ◽  
Rohan B. H. Williams ◽  
...  

Biological wastewater treatment systems are often affected by major shifts in influent quality, including the input of various toxic chemicals. Yet the mechanisms underlying adaptation of activated sludge process performance when challenged with a sustained toxin input have not been studied in a controlled and replicated experiment. Three replicate bench-scale bioreactors were subjected to a chemical disturbance in the form of 3-chloroaniline (3-CA) input over 132 days, following an acclimation period of 58 days, while three control reactors received no 3-CA input. The nitrification process was initially affected by 3-CA input; yet all three treatment reactors evolved to biologically degrade 3-CA within three weeks of the experiment, resulting in partial nitrification recovery. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that ammonia oxidizers were initially impacted by 3-CA, and a new ammonia oxidizing community emerged with the onset of 3-CA degradation. Combining process and microbial community data from amplicon sequencing with potential functions gleaned from assembled metagenomics and metatranscriptomics data, 3-CA degradation was shown to likely occur via a phenol monooxygenase followed by ortho-cleavage of the aromatic ring. The relative abundance of genera Gemmatimonas, Saprospiraceae OLB8 and Taibaiella correlated significantly with 3-CA degradation. This study demonstrated the impact of a sustained stress on the activated sludge community and wastewater treatment process and its subsequent recovery. Using a combination of techniques in a controlled and replicated experiment, we showed that microbial communities can evolve degradative capacity following a sustained xenobiotic input, specific functions like nitrification can fully or partially recover and targeted culture-independent approaches can be used to elucidate the mechanisms of adaptation.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyree J. West ◽  
Delphine Parrot ◽  
Claire Fayet ◽  
Martin Grube ◽  
Sophie Tomasi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe microbial diversity and function of terrestrial lichens has been well studied, but knowledge about the non-photosynthetic bacteria associated with marine lichens is still scarce. 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was used to assess the culture-independent bacterial diversity in the strictly marine cyanolichen speciesLichina pygmaeaandLichina confinis, and the maritime chlorolichen speciesXanthoria aureolawhich occupy different areas on the littoral zone. Inland terrestrial cyanolichens from Austria were also analysed as for the marine lichens to examine further the impact of habitat/lichen species on the associated bacterial communities. TheL. confinisandL. pygmaeacommunities were significantly different from those of the maritimeXanthoria aureolalichen found higher up on the littoral zone and these latter communities were more similar to those of the inland terrestrial lichens. The strictly marine lichens were dominated by the Bacteroidetes phylum accounting for 50% of the sequences, whereas Alphaproteobacteria, notablySphingomonas, dominated the maritime and the inland terrestrial lichens. Bacterial communities associated with the twoLichinaspecies were significantly different sharing only 33 core OTUs, half of which were affiliated to the Bacteroidetes generaRubricoccus, TunicatimonasandLewinella, suggesting an important role of these species in the marineLichinalichen symbiosis. Marine cyanolichens showed a higher abundance of OTUs likely affiliated to moderately thermophilic and/or radiation resistant bacteria belonging to the Phyla Chloroflexi, Thermi, and the families Rhodothermaceae and Rubrobacteraceae when compared to those of inland terrestrial lichens. This most likely reflects the exposed and highly variable conditions to which they are subjected daily.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (13) ◽  
pp. 162-168
Author(s):  
Pippa Hales ◽  
Corinne Mossey-Gaston

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers across Northern America and Europe. Treatment options offered are dependent on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, the staging, and the overall health of the person. When surgery for lung cancer is offered, difficulty swallowing is a potential complication that can have several influencing factors. Surgical interaction with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can lead to unilateral vocal cord palsy, altering swallow function and safety. Understanding whether the RLN has been preserved, damaged, or sacrificed is integral to understanding the effect on the swallow and the subsequent treatment options available. There is also the risk of post-surgical reduction of physiological reserve, which can reduce the strength and function of the swallow in addition to any surgery specific complications. As lung cancer has a limited prognosis, the clinician must also factor in the palliative phase, as this can further increase the burden of an already compromised swallow. By understanding the surgery and the implications this may have for the swallow, there is the potential to reduce the impact of post-surgical complications and so improve quality of life (QOL) for people with lung cancer.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Erickson-Levendoski ◽  
Mahalakshmi Sivasankar

The epithelium plays a critical role in the maintenance of laryngeal health. This is evident in that laryngeal disease may result when the integrity of the epithelium is compromised by insults such as laryngopharyngeal reflux. In this article, we will review the structure and function of the laryngeal epithelium and summarize the impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux on the epithelium. Research investigating the ramifications of reflux on the epithelium has improved our understanding of laryngeal disease associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux. It further highlights the need for continued research on the laryngeal epithelium in health and disease.


1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
John A Atkinson ◽  
Camilla Dickson ◽  
Jane Downes ◽  
Paul Robins ◽  
David Sanderson

Summary Two small burnt mounds were excavated as part of the programme to mitigate the impact of motorway construction in the Crawford area. The excavations followed a research strategy designed to address questions of date and function. This paper surveys the various competing theories about burnt mounds and how the archaeological evidence was evaluated against those theories. Both sites produced radiocarbon dates from the Bronze Age and evidence to suggest that they were cooking places. In addition, a short account is presented of two further burnt mounds discovered during the construction of the motorway in Annandale.


2016 ◽  
pp. 126-129
Author(s):  
M. Makarenko ◽  
◽  
D. Hovsyeyev ◽  
L. Sydoryk ◽  
◽  
...  

Different kinds of physiological stress cause mass changes in the cells, including the changes in the structure and function of the protein complexes and in separate molecules. The protein functions is determined by its folding (the spatial conclusion), which depends on the functioning of proteins of thermal shock- molecular chaperons (HSPs) or depends on the stress proteins, that are high-conservative; specialized proteins that are responsible for the correct proteinaceous folding. The family of the molecular chaperones/ chaperonins/ Hsp60 has a special place due to the its unique properties of activating the signaling cascades through the system of Toll-like receptors; it also stimulates the cells to produce anti- inflammatory cytokines, defensins, molecules of cell adhesion and the molecules of MHC; it functions as the intercellular signaling molecule. The pathological role of Hsp60 is established in a wide range of illnesses, from diabetes to atherosclerosis, where Hsp60 takes part in the regulation of both apoptosis and the autoimmune processes. The presence of the HSPs was found in different tissues that are related to the reproductive system. Key words: molecular chaperons (HSPs), Toll-like receptors, reproductive function, natural auto antibody.


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Wong ◽  
C. D. Goldsmith

The effect of discharging specific oil degrading bacteria from a chemostat to a refinery activated sludge process was determined biokinetically. Plant data for the kinetic evaluation of the waste treatment plant was collected before and during treatment. During treatment, the 500 gallon chemostatic growth chamber was operated on an eight hour hydraulic retention time, at a neutral pH, and was fed a mixture of refinery wastewater and simple sugars. The biokinetic constants k (days−1), Ks (mg/L), and K (L/mg-day) were determined before and after treatment by Monod and Lineweaver-Burk plots. Solids discharged and effluent organic concentrations were also evaluated against the mean cell retention time (MCRT). The maximum utilization rate, k, was found to increase from 0.47 to 0.95 days−1 during the operation of the chemostat. Subsequently, Ks increased from 141 to 556 mg/L. Effluent solids were shown to increase slightly with treatment. However, this was acceptable due to the polishing pond and the benefit of increased ability to accept shock loads of oily wastewater. The reason for the increased suspended solids in the effluent was most likely due to the continual addition of bacteria in exponential growth that were capable of responding to excess substrate. The effect of the chemostatic addition of specific microbial inocula to the refinery waste treatment plant has been to improve the overall organic removal capacity along with subsequent gains in plant stability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-122
Author(s):  
Doris Adams Hill ◽  
Theoni Mantzoros ◽  
Jonté C. Taylor

Special educators are often considered the experts in their school when it comes to developing functional behavior assessments (FBA) and behavior intervention plans (BIP), yet rarely are they trained much beyond basic antecedents, behaviors, and consequences (ABC). This column discusses concepts that will expand special education professionals’ knowledge to make better decisions regarding interventions for the students they serve. Specifically, the focus is on motivating operations (MO) and function-based interventions and the implications of these on behavior. Knowledge of the concept of MOs can enhance a teacher’s ability to provide evidence-based interventions and more fully developed behavioral interventions for students in their purview.


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